by Alan Jacques
COUNCILLORS in the municipal district of Adare-Rathkeale have unanimously backed a proposal to seek a variation in the Croom Area Plan to facilitate plans for a new secondary school.
Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Kevin Sheahan (FF), who proposed the motion, described it as a “no-brainer” and although none of the councillors in the new Adare-Rathkeale area had previously represented Croom, they would move forward and leave the mistakes of the last 11 years behind.
“We are new and we must let our attitude be new. Croom needs a school and we have a site. How this hasn’t advance before now is a mystery,” he commented.
Fine Gael councillor Stephen Keary who seconded Cllr Sheahan’s motion claimed students were currently being educated in a “Third World facility” in Coláiste Chiaráin.
Independent councillor Emmett O’Brien went even further when he stated,” I don’t know what Guantanamo or the H-blocks are like but the prefabs that students are being taught in at Croom are like sensory deprivation cells.”
“We need to put our best foot forward and ensure that a new school is adequately provided,” he insisted.
Fianna Fail councillor Richard O’Donoghue said that he was a student at the school in 1986 when plans for the new building were first mooted.
“The people of Croom know what’s best. The funds for this are only available until 2017 and they don’t want to lose this funding for it to go somewhere else,” he added.
“Croom needs a school. It was needed since I was there in 1986. I want this to be the last appeal going forward and don’t want to see it coming back to us again,” he said.
Sinn Fein councillor Ciara McMahon, pointed out that she wasn’t even born in 1986, but said it was important that all focus now remains on the future of the new school.
“We will all be held accountable if this doesn’t happen,” she warned.
Fine Gael councillor Tom Neville proposed that a letter be sent to Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan to ensure plans for the school are moved forward without delay.
Senior executive engineer Gerry Doherty told council members that the timeline for the planning process could take between ten and 15 months.
